Shape-forming device



May 9p 1950 J. A. cHYBA 2,507,194

sHAPE-FoRMxNG DEVICE Filed Feb. 19, 1947 Za y SYWMIM A JSEPH A. CHYA ffl/5 abbot/W Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES Pl'l'ENT OFFHCE SHAPE-FORMING DEVICE Application February 19, 1947', Serial No. 729,503

4; Claims.V 1.

This invention relates to a shape-forming device and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and efficient means for shaping metal and the like, by a controlled and balanced pres@ sure upon the work whichis being shaped.

Another object, of this invention is the production of a simple and eiiicient means for shaping metalA and the like, by controlling and balancing pressure in opposite directions uponA the work so that pressure may be proportionately relieved in one direction as pressure is increased in an opposite direction to insurean even and uniform shape, thickness and rigidity throughout the body of the completed work or product which is being formed.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear' throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a vertical. sectional view through the shape-forming device or die illustrating the relative positions of the parts prior to the application of pressure;

Figure 2 is a, vertical sectional view illustrating the positions of the parts while pressure is being applied;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modi,- ed form of the invention;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view illustrating a modified form of seal or gasket.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that i0'- designates the lower housing of the die or shape-forming device which is provided with a pressurey compartment or cavity il. The lower housing may be secured toor carried by a support in any conventional manner common to the trade. itv suitable controlV conduit I2, having a suitable control valve, communicates with they cavity I l to control or regulate pressurev entering into or receding from the cavity II. This valve I3 may be of the conventional type common to the trade for regulating intake and for the relief of pressure.

A piston or die I4 is mounted within the cavity If and carries a seal I5 having a conventional tapering piston seal flange. A retaining plate I6 abuts the seal I5v and a suitable screw I1 retains the plate I6 in clamped relation with the seal I5 to anchor the seal I5' in place.

If desired, a seal' such as is illustrated' as at i8 in Figure 4, which is of a conventional type may be. carried by the piston or die It@ in place of the seal I5 shown in Figure 1. It is not desired, however, to restrict thisy invention to any particular type-of seal for the reason that any type of liq- 2 uid or air seal may be used which will prevent an escape of pressure beyond the piston.

As shown in Figures l and 2, a, co-acting housing or upper section i9 lits upon the lower housing ID, and the lower housing preferably extends slightly into the cavity 20 of the upper section I9. The lower housing is provided with a flat surface 2I2upon which a at sheet of Work 22 is placed as shown in Figure l, and the piston or die I4 is moved to a contacting position with the sheet of work 22, this position also being shown in Figure 1. The upper section or housing I9 is provided with the cavity 20 above referred to, in which cavity 20 is mounted a filler in the nature of a rubber or other ilexible or yieldable shape-forming substance 23.

A suitable control conduit 2f communicates with the upper end of the cavity 2li, and a suitable control valve 21 is carried by the conduit 25 to regulate pressure entering into or receding from the cavity l l. The valve 21' is of the conventional type common to the trade for regulating intake and the relief of pressure.

It should be understood that by controlling the valves I 3 and 21 and properly manipulating the valves, pressure in the cavities i! and 2B may be controlled and varied to gradually and evenly form an article of a desired shape from the sheet 22. In other words, as pressure is admitted into the upper end 2te of the cavity 2t above the piston 2t, the rubber or shape-conforming substance 23 will be compressed against the sheet 22. As the pressure is proportionately relieved by the op erator by manipulating the valve It to allow the piston le to recede into the cavity il, the sheet 22 will be forced into the upper end of the cavity I.I against the piston or die i4 to press the sheet 22 into the desired shape under uniform pressure. The rubber substance 23 under pressure, exerts a uniform shapeforming pressure throughout the entire area of the sheet 23 against the die or piston i4 and the sides of the cavity II at the point where the piston le recedes so as to produce a uniform thickness with uniform strength throughout the entire area of the work, in View of the fact that pressure will be exerted upon the rubber substance 23 in all directions to an equal degree.

By means of the structure above described, it should be understood that because of the fact that the piston it recedes in proportion to the pressure appiied to the yieldabie substance 23, weak sections ci the material cannot yield to a greater extent than other sections of the inaterial being shaped, since the section I4 moves only in proportion to the pressure applied above upon the substance 23. This operation will cause the sheet 22 to be uniformly shaped true to the form desired. Furthermore, when a sheet of proper size is placed in the position as shown in Figure i, and proper controlled pressure is applied, the sheet 22 may be completely and properly shaped to produce a nished product without the necessity of subsequent trimming. This operation will result in a great saving of ma, terial.

It should be obvious that the particular shape of the article formed is determined by the type of die used since various forms may be produced because of the fact that the rubber filler or substance 23, when under pressure, will exert pressure in all directions. This pressure will cause the metal plate 22 to conform to the exact shape of the die which may be placed in the cavity II in a manner common to the trade. The sheet 22 is initially held in the position shown in Figure l, and when controlled pressure is applied the sheet 2?. will be pressed or formed to the desired shape such as is shown, for one example, in Figure 2.

The present device provides for the rubber substance 23 which acts as a punch or pressure element, thereby eliminating the expensive metal punch which is used in the conventional apparatus usually employed.

In Figure 3 there is shown a modified form of the invention, wherein an upper section 30 is provided having a cavity 3l containing a rubber or other flexible or yieldable substance or filler 32, and a piston 33 similar to the structure shown in Figure 1. A suitable pressure conduit 34 supplies pressure above the piston 33. A lower section 35 supports the upper section 30, and a work 35 and against the pressure of the ller or substance 32 while pressure is relived as may be required by releasing the pressure proportionately through conduit 34 in a similar manner described wth respect to Figure l. This particular device has been found advantageous when very great .f

pressure is necessary, such for instance as when 'forming or shaping hardened stainless steel.

By means of the structure illustrated and described, wherein the hydraulic pressure is controlled or regulated to compensate one against the other in opposed relation, the rubber shapeconforming substance will flow and control the draw in a uniform manner. The rubber or shapeconforming substance drops or is forced to a lower level as the die recedes in the form shown in Figures l and 2, and this in turn forces the work` sheet 22 down into the cavity I I against the piston or disc I4. The work sheet 22 under pressure is constantly and equally drawn into the cavity II and conforms to the die or top of the piston i4. The desired shaped part is in this way shaped without strain being concentrated at any particular point, but pressure is equalized over the entire area of the work which is being formed or shaped.

It should be noted that the opposing pressures are at all times under control of the operator who may vary the pressure upon either side of the work, above or below, by actuating the valves I3 and 21, as occasion may require. It will be further noted that the cavity I I is smaller than the cavity 20, and the rubber or other shape-conforming substance overhangs the edges of the cavity I I to initially hold the work sheet 22 flat upon the upper face of the lower section I0 before shape-forming pressure is applied. By means of the device illustrated trimming of the product is not necessary forming, since all material or metal is used and no waste of material results. A blank may be made to a developed size and drawn to a precalculated finished product. The rubber ller is generally compressible ten to twenty-live per cent, but it is not desired to limit the invention to the use of rubber as a ller.

Having described the invention, claimed as new is:

1. A shape-forming device of the class described comprising a pair of co-acting housing sections, one section having a pressure-containing compartment, the other section having a-companion pressure-containing compartment registering with the rst mentioned compartment, a exible compressible substance mounted in the rst mentioned compartment and adapted to clamp a. work sheet in contact with the co-acting section, means for selectively varying and controlling pressure within the compartments to force the ilexible compressible substance from one compartment against the work sheet and to force the work sheet into the companion compartment as pressure is proportionately relieved from said companion compartment, a piston slidably mounted Within the rst mentioned compartment for contacting the flexible compressible substance, and a piston die slidably mounted in said companion pressure-containing compartment and contacting the work sheet, said piston die being adapted to recede into the companion compartment as pressure is applied to the rst mentioned piston and is proportionately relieved from said piston die.

2. A shape-forming device of the class described comprising a pair of co-acting housing sections, one section having a pressure-containing compartment, the other section having a companion pressure-containing compartment registering with the rst mentioned compartment, a flexible compressible substance mounted in the rst mentioned compartmentand adapted to clamp a work sheet in contact with the co-acting section, means for selectively varywhat 1s 'ing and controlling pressure within the compartments to force the flexible compressible substance from one compartment against the work sheet and to force the work sheet into the companion compartment as pressure' is proportion'- ately relieved from said companion compartment, a piston slidably mounted within'the first mentioned compartment for contacting the flexible compressible substance, a piston die slidably mounted in said companion pressure-containing compartment and contacting the work sheet, said piston die being adapted -to recede into the companion compartment as pressure is applied to the rst mentioned piston and is proportionately relieved from said piston die,l and fa pressure seal carried byeach. piston to prevent the escapeof pressure beyond the'pistons in said compartments. Y

3. A shape-forming device of the class described comprising'a pair of co-acting housing sections, each section having a pressure compartment, a piston 'slidably mountedl in each compartment, a pressure seal for each piston,

means for selectively supplying and relieving pressure within each compartment behind said pistons, one compartment overlying and being of larger size than the compartment in the coacting section, a flexible and yieldable substance carried Within the larger compartment and adapted to initially hold a Work sheet in firm Contact with the other piston and the co-acting section, the piston in the larger compartment being adapted to compress the flexible and yieldable substance when pressure is applied to said last mentioned piston, and the compressed ilexible and yieldable substance being adapted to force a work sheet into the compartment into the co-acting section against the piston in the co-acting section for shaping the work sheet, as pressure in the larger compartment is increased and pressure is proportionately decreased in the co-acting compartment.

4. A shape-forming device of the class described, comprising a pair of co-acting housing sections, each secton having a pressure compartment, a piston slidably mounted in each compartment, a pressure seal for each piston, means for selectively supplying and relieving pressure within each compartment behind said pistons, one compartment overlying and being of larger size than the compartment in the coacting section, a rubber filler carried Within the larger compartment and adapted to initially hold a Work sheet in rm contact with the other pisten and the co-acting section, the piston in the larger compartment being adapted to compress the rubber filler when pressure is applied to said lastl mentioned piston, and the rubber ller being adapted to force a Work sheet into the compartment into the co-acting section against the pison in the co-acting section for shaping the work sheet, as pressure in the larger compartment is increased and pressure is proportionately decreased in the co-acting compartment.

JOSEPH ANTHONY CHYBA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 696,821 Huber Apr. 1, 1902 1,547,871 Grunberg July 28, 1925 2,234,225 Becker Mar. 11, 1941 2,284,773 Swian June 2, 1942 2,354,005 Flowers July 18, 1944 2,375,599 Walton May 8, 1945 

